On Sunday 19th September 2010, the Priory Dental Care team are going to walk, run and bike a marathon in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

We are going to complete the 26.2 mile course as a team relay; starting at 10am from the practice in Priory Road, Downham Market, taking us around the local villages and finally finishing back at the practice several hours later!  (see route below)  If you see us please give us a cheer of encouragement – you won’t be able to miss us as we’ll be dressed in green and carrying a large inflatable baton!!

We would be grateful for any donation you can give, no matter how big or small.  We have a sponsor form available on the reception desk or, if you prefer, you can donate online through JustGiving – please click the following link  www.justgiving.com/priorydental

Macmillan Cancer Support improve the lives of people affected by cancer.  They provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support and push for better cancer care.  They rely on their supporters for 99% of their income and so, without our donations, they couldn’t provide any of their services for people living with cancer.   www.macmillan.org.uk

The Route

Leg One (2.94 miles) – Walk – Starting from the practice, heading out of town towards the station and following the river to Stow Bridge

Leg Two (11.43 miles) – Bike – From Stow Bridge to Barroway Drove, then following the river to Denver Sluice, from Denver towards Ryston, then to Bexwell and back into Downham.

Leg Three (2.71 miles) – Run – From Downham to Wimbotsham, across the A10 to Stow Bardolph.

Leg Four (9.12 miles) – Bike – From Stow Bardolph to Crimplesham, on to West Dereham, back to Ryston and Denver, over the by-pass into Downham and back to the practice in Priory Road.

For the last 12 months Marie has dedicated most of her spare time to working towards the Level 4 BTEC Professional Diploma in Dental Practice Management.  The course involved, amongst other things, producing evidence in the form of:

• Case studies
• Workplace projects
• Quality assurance
• Practice policies, procedures and protocols

Congratulations to Marie who achieved this qualification with a ’Distinction’, which is the highest possible level obtainable.  Not only is this a great achievement for Marie but it also highlights the exceptional level of commitment at the surgery and the investment into the future of the practice.

Sheila, Louis, Marie and Tina being presented with the winners shield and a cheque for £200

On Friday 7th May some members of the Priory Dental Care team took part in the annual Downham Market Lions Club Mega Quiz.   The team of four comprised of Sheila, Marie and Tina, with Louis kindly stepping in at the last minute.  We optimistically called ourselves ‘Pearls of Wisdom’ and battled our way through some difficult rounds.  The competition was tough but, to our delight, we won first place!

First prize was a cheque for the sum of £200 to be donated to the charity of our choice.  We decided to donate the prize money to Dentaid.  Dentaid is one of the leading charities in improving the oral health within the developing world.   They have helped establish over 100 regional referral centres and outreach treatment programmes serving disadvantaged communities around the world.  Conservative estimates point to over one million patients a year receiving safe and effective relief from pain through these Dentaid funded treatment centres - patients who otherwise may still be living with their pain or risk life threatening infection from seeking relief through blacksmith or DIY dentistry.  For more information on the vital work that Dentaid provide worldwide, please click on the following link www.dentaid.org

Once engraved, our winners shield will take pride of place in reception for the next 12 months for all to see.  We all thoroughly enjoyed the evening and are looking forward to taking part again next year to see if we can retain our crown!

The children with the three bicycles that we bought for them

While on holiday in Cambodia in January this year (2010), the group I was with visited a small town called Kampong Cham (Claypot Town) on the Upper Mekong River, north of Phnom Penh.  On the way to visiting a nearby orphanage, we made a collection and bought for them the three bicycles that you see in the picture.  This is the only means of transport they had and essential to get to school.

The young artist with the painting which can now been seen in our waiting room

They have nothing and make what money they can by painting pictures and selling them to visitors.  They stay in the orphanage until they are old enough to find work.  I bought a painting for the waiting room from the artist (the young man pictured with me) for £15, which is a week’s wages to the average Cambodian.  He assured me he would get to keep half of the money.  Most children leave the orphanage at around 16 years old.  He thought he was 19 but couldn’t be sure.

Cambodia is a beautiful country.  No visitor could fail to be moved by the warmth, generosity and courage of its people as they work to build for themselves a new future, following decades of unimaginable suffering.

You will also find in the waiting room an album of photographs called ‘Elergy’, taken by an American called John McDermott, in Angkor, an ancient civilisation in the Centre of Cambodia.  I hope you have the time to take a look. 

Martin Stewart

TePe Interdental Gel with Fluoride

TePe Interdental Gel with Fluoride is a mint flavoured gel, specially designed for easy use with TePe Interdental Brushes.  Fluoride can help to strengthen the enamel and slow down the demineralization process.  The gel is free from abrasives for smooth, gentle cleaning in the approximal area (between the teeth) and provides a fresh feeling, not only between the teeth, but in the entire mouth.   

TePe Interdental Brushes

Rosie, Marie & Tina proudly showing off their Race for Life medals!

Thanks to your help during 2009 we raised a grand total of £761.85 for charity!

In July 2009, Rosie, Marie and Tina ran, walked and hobbled the Cancer Research UK Race for Life 5km (3.1 miles) at Houghton Hall, raising a total of £703.50.  The Race for Life is the largest women-only fundraising event in the UK.  Every pound raised in sponsorship or fundraising helps to fund the work of over 4,500 researchers, doctors and nurses dedicated to helping more people beat cancer.  To find out more about the Race for Life, please click this link www.raceforlife.org

We raised a further £16.12 by selling blue ribbon badges for Mouth Cancer Action Month in November 2009.   The British Dental Health Foundation run the month-long campaign to urge the public to self-examine for signs of mouth cancer and visit their dentist for oral screenings.  For further information about the Mouth Cancer campaign please click the following link www.mouthcancer.org/public

We also raised £42.23 for Dentaid from the collection box displayed on the reception counter.  Dentaid is one of the leading oral health charities in the world, having supported almost 200 oral health programmes in over 50 countries.  For further information on the valuable work that Dentaid provide, please click this link www.dentaid.org

The Priory Dental Care team will continue with their fundraising efforts in 2010 and we will keep you updated with all forthcoming charity events.

The Priory Dental Care team would like to wish all our patients a happy and prosperous new year!

Despite the recent weeks of snow fall, our dedicated team have made every effort to get into work and so, thankfully, it has remained business as usual.

If you are unable to make the journey, please contact reception as soon as possible to allow us that appointment time to be rescheduled with another patient.